Wreckage of missing US chopper found in Nepal; toll reaches 117

KATHMANDU: Three charred bodies and wreckage of a US Marine chopper that went missing while delivering aid in quake-hit Nepal were today recovered in a remote hilly area as death toll from the fresh quake reached 117 and five fresh tremors kept people on edge in the battered nation.

The missing US Marine Corps UH-1 Huey carrying two Nepalese Army personnel and six Marines onboard has been spotted in the remote mountainous area of Ghorthali area of Sindhupalchok District, 100 kms east of Kathmandu, according to Nepal Army.

The chopper disappeared on Tuesday when the second powerful temblor struck and was spotted by a Nepalese army helicopter.

After receiving the information from the ground troops, the Nepalese Army spotted the crashed chopper northeast of Kalinchok which lies at an altitude of 11,200 feet.

"The wreckage of the helicopter was found in pieces and there are no chances of any survivors," Nepal's Defense Secretary Iswori Poudyal said but did not give any details about the nationalities of the victims.

He added that the remains of the victims were charred. The exact fate of all the members onboard and the conditions under which the crash took place is not yet known and it will be followed, the Nepal Army said in its statement.

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat tweeted: "Tragic news of crashed chopper at 11200 ft Kalinchok,Dolakha reported by NA.Saddened at the loss brave people at humanitarian work."

Its disappearance had triggered intense search involving US and Nepalese aircraft and even US satellites besides hundreds of American and Nepalese ground troops.

The recovered bodies are being ferried to Kathmandu. Local police officials say hundreds of security personnel including US Marines and locals have reached the crash site, ekantipur.com reported.